About Us

Annie’s Project is an educational program dedicated to strengthening women’s roles in modern farm and ranch enterprises. Launched in 2003 by University of Illinois Extension Educator Ruth Hambleton, Annie’s Project is a tribute to her mother, Annette Kohlhagen Fleck.

The program honors Annie’s entrepreneurship and her goal of raising a family and being an active partner in the family farm operation.

Farming is a complex business and more farm women are becoming active business partners in their operations. The target audience is farm women with a passion for business and involvement. Participants will gain a better understanding of human resource issues, business plans, financial documentation, property titles, cash and crop share leases, marketing plans, retirement and estate planning and types of insurance.

Our mission is to empower farm and ranch women to be better business partnersthrough networks and by managing and organizing critical information.

Annie’s Project – Education for Farm Women (APEFW) is an IRS designated 501(c)(3) organization established for the purpose of providing education and other opportunities to woman farmers and ranchers so that these women can become effective owners and partners in farm businesses. Programs offered through APEFW are called Annie’s Projects.

APEFW has developed a series of classes that address a variety of issues confronted by female farmers and ranchers. Through six educational sessions, Annie’s Project level I fosters problem solving, record keeping, and decision-making skills from the five areas of risk as identified by USDA.

Programs are localized and conducted in small groups. Women are provided a safe harbor to learn in a stress free, open environment. They are encouraged to contribute their life experiences to facilitate learning from each other. Local specialists provide the skilled guidance needed for the educational process to blossom. Hear what participants have to say.

Additional Annie’s Project programs specific to local needs have had a significant impact, assisting women to develop additional skills in the areas of information management, financial documents, land ownership and leasing, and marketing commodities.

If there is not a site near you, ask the contact person for your state to add you to their list of interested clients.